How do you greet others, gesture?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste This link gives how the Indian tradition goes. It has got a scientific meaning as well.

We also 'westernize' the actions with Hi, Hai, Hello, How do you do?... and so on. "Had your coffee?" [irrespective of time!!] ... had your food.... breakfast and so on depending on the time.

This is my favourite pose that the squirrel reminds me of our tradition. It does this when it eats some food. It holds the pieces with its both hands and eats .... as if in a greeting posture!

Dinu

I really like "namaste," as it seems so natural and graceful. Having been brought up in England, the greeting gesture I am most comfortable with is the handshake. Even my close family never hugged each other in greeting, but after living in North America for many years, I am gradually becoming less alarmed by spontaneous greeting hugs from friends. Cheek-kissing is something I am definitely not comfortable with, however, unless it is from my DH.

I have stopped using the British "How d'you do?" greeting, and now usually ask "How are you?" Of course, the correct answer is "Fine, thank you," even if you are at death's door, but sometimes someone will jump at the opportunity to tell you in detail just how ill they are feeling.

Many cultures greet differently, the western's world handshake - implying peace. I love it. Southern States of A. hug - greetings are so warm and conveying closeness & affections. But of Asia culture's Young children are taught to bowl their heads when greeting adults, school age children are to rise when the teachers enter the class room to show respect. I think it's very important to teach children to respect elders begins at the appropriate time - when young.

I too am from the South - born in Kentucky and raised by Kentuckians. We always greet someone we know with a big hug unless the person is a business acquaintance, but a stranger with a strong handshake. But for those strangers who we have yet to meet but have been looking forward to meeting them, we use two hands to shake their hand - cupping their hand in both of ours. Our greetings are, "It's nice to meet you", "I've looked so forward to meeting you", or for those who we know, "It's good to see you again, so how have you been?" .....All of them said while looking them in the eye. ....For the later, sometimes the reply is "Fine, thank you.", or it can be all the details of how they're doing. ...Both are acceptable because the question asked is sincere.

On a side note....
Children show respect by saying "Yes Mam’" or "No Sir", and calling adults by Mr. ___, Mrs. ___, or Miss ___, unless told otherwise. Children always use “Please” and “Thank you” as well, and they never interrupt adults speaking unless it is necessary, and then they say, "Excuse me please." And if given a gesture signaling the child to remain quiet until the adults are done speaking, children remain quiet and stand still until the adult they want to speak to say, “Yes Tommy, what do you need to tell me?”

.......Does anyone teach children manners anymore, or how to be kind and think of others before themselves? That's a tradition that needs to be re-taught to our American society.

Glenda

PS: Doesn’t the tradition of shaking hands, when greeting someone, come from showing each other that you do not have a weapon in your hand?

I have an old man friend that worked in the army and was also a sports instructor. He is now 83 and still, his handshake is quite strong! He always tells the person the grip the handshake firmly and if someone gives the hand loosely - which some consider as bad manners!- he immediately reacts "why are you giving me a dead snake?" His palms are rough as he does a bit of dumbell training [stopped recently since he got his pacemaker inserted]. Incidentally he is my late father's classmate. A firm handshake also indicates confidence.

Dinu...I would have to agree with Glenda's post...exactly what I do as well..infact..out of respect, I still call my inlaws Mr.&Mrs.... can't seem to shake the traditions I grew up with...

Though I was taught manners at a young age, the transition from
New York to the south brought problems unbeknownst to us.

In the fourth grade, we raised our hands, spoke our name and
carried on. After I said my last name, the teacher asked about kin.
In brief, I had no idea what this meant, perhaps she was trying to ask
who was my Ken? Well, Ken was my father's name. She raised her
voice and said it louder, "Who is your kin?" Keep in mind she had a
very heavy southern accent. My father's name and kin thus sounded
the same. Key-un. Ken. Kin.

I replied once more "Ken is my father." She was now angry. "Who are
your relatives???" I responded "Ken and Iva. She never was nice to me
after that, though I didn't have the foggiest idea why.

Another issue was standing at the door, waiting for the bell to ring. One
teacher stood on each side of the doorway. The bell rang, and I proceeded,
only to be yanked back and yelled at for walking between two people
talking. Forget the fact that the bell rang and it was time to go. Forget the
fact that I stood much shorter than these two talking. She was mad about
something and took it out on me.

Still to this day I hate walking between people talking, even if they
are hogging the walkway.

P.S. Yes, the tradition of hand shaking comes from Medieval times, with
the right hand, to show one carried no weapons.

Today psychology would teach teachers/educators to treat children too with respect, since it's a two ways street. I failed to mention. My bad.

When I was little, I called elders Mr/ Mrs Lastname, but it seems more common around here now to call elders Mr or Miss Firstname, even married. So I'm now Miss Sally to a twenty something that I was at a group campingtrip with, which I guess was nicer than just Sally(being both adults, but respect for me being old enuf to be his mother) and more friendly than Mrs Lastname, since it was a pretty small friendly group.

I agree Sally that it depends on the group or person as to how the kids address them.

You know, WUVIE, it's funny..... If I (have) to walk in-between two people talking, or if I'm in a store, etc., and have to walk in-between someone and an object they are looking at, an item on a shelf, a painting, etc., I always say, "Excuse me please." before I walk through. .....Must be one of the things Mom taught me to do when I was young. Until now, I never really noticed that I always do that..... :)

Agreed, walking between talkers or a shopper and her merchandise, is to be 'excused'
I am often unsure when to say Hi when passing someone in a parking lot, say. I guess going into and out of the schools where my kids are is the place I most feel like I should say Hi to anyone I pass. Do some poeple say Hi to everyone that passes? Of course, if you're in the city, you wouldn't greet all 200 people you walk by...

Oh, I do, definitely feel the need to say "Excuse me." I even
feel compelled to say it when I walk between a shopper and
his cart even if they are on opposite sides of the aisle.

My parents taught me common courtesy, nothing missing here.
In fact, I entertain myself with the fact that I scored significantly higher
in morality than a large majority of people taking the same online test.

But I still cringe, remember that teacher snagging me
and getting nasty in my face. Egads!

This message was edited Sep 4, 2007 8:03 PM

It's funny how there are different customs in different regions of the US. Down South, if folks are out in their yard, setting on their porch, or walking down the road, as you drive by, they all wave - whether they know you or not. ....Southern hospitality, I guess. :)

I remember the same things in New York, only with more
parades. We lived in the mountains, not the busy city. :-)

Dinu, too cute, I just now noticed how your squirrel was holding his
hands, as though he were bowing.

:-)

I agree, Southerners seem more friendly than what I'm used to in Marymand.

This summer, I was traveling through Kentucky - from Cincinnati, to Lexington, and then on to Eastern Kentucky to visit family. I stopped at a gas station several miles east of Lexington, and as I was walking towards the gas station door, I had an old Wendy's cup in my hand and was trying to find an outside garbage can so I could throw the cup away. A man passed me as he walked out the door and said, "Are you wanting to throw your cup away? If so, I'll take it for you." I was startled at his offer and finally said, "Sure! Thank you, that's very kind of you!" He took my cup and continued on his way out to the pumps, where I saw him throw my cup in the garbage can. ....What a nice gesture from a gentleman stranger. ....Let me tell you, I've lived in Michigan for 50 years. THAT would never happen in Michigan!

It's sad that simple acts of kindness and thoughtfulness, are so rare and out of the norm. .......We need to get back to that. At one time, acts of kindness were commonplace and expected from a civilized society.

Depends where you are in Michigan. I see many acts of kindness here. But we are a small town and further north in the state. People are very friendly, everyone waves, says hi, helps you if in need, etc.
I grew up only 50 miles south of here, and let me tell you it was a much different story. Moving few miles was a culture shock, and for me, it was for the better.
I think in general most smaller towns are very friendly. I have found friendly, kind people all over the USA. Many of these were cities in the north.

That's good to hear. Yes, most of my contact has been with metro-Detroit, Lansing, etc. Folks out in the countryside, where I live now, are much nicer, but not to the point that's common down South. Glad to hear that northern Michigan is much friendlier.

I think I avoid big cities now for that reason. Spoiled maybe? or just out of touch?
You can become a hermit in the woods after a while. Ü

Hey, why would you (want) to be around people who are cold, sometimes rude, and uncaring - regardless of where they are? .....I steer clear of the city too. Wild horses couldn't make me move back there.

My son lives in Tulsa, and I just told him the same thing the other
day. You could not pay me to live there, or in any big city. It's not
that all the people are bad, it just seems there are more "ME ME ME"
people in the open. The good ones are all home hiding. LOL.
Just kidding.

Certainly not all city people are harsh, but many of them live
there for reasons and ideas that don't blend with ours.

Gotta have it all, gotta do it all, look at me, look at my car,
look at my house. These are the apples that tend to cast the
cold feeling for me, the people who are out more, the ones we
run into that leave a bad taste in our mouths. The positive thing
about going to the city is that it makes me sigh with relief upon
returning home. :-)

Ah, my flumpy couch, hubby, the kids, the cats, the flowers. I'm home!
We're getting older. LOL.

Our kids love the city, love the action, all the things going on. They seem to thrive on it. Some people enjoy the big buildings and the cities that do not sleep.
Not for me.

Parts, too true. I thought my son was going to stay the night,
but he wanted to leave. At night. I asked why, and his reply was
"I just can't live this slow."

LOL

Hahahahaha, I love slow. Time to smell the roses huh? We hear the kids say quite often...it is soooo relaxing here.
We moved here after the kids left home, so it is all new to them. The kids like it here, but they are always riding quads, walking in the woods, tubing or canoe or fishing, always on the go. Maybe they have to stay active not to miss tv. Who has time for that?
They do say it is way too quiet at night to sleep.

Sorry Dinu, kinda got off track.
So do people where you live tend to be more friendly in smaller cities? Or is this trend maybe just in our area of the world?
I think in big cities more people are afraid to be friendly. I think they are more impersonal out of protection. Just a thought.

Parts, I agree on that note. In small towns, many of the folks have
the same mindset. In larger cities, everyone has such different
lives. There is no set train of thought or way of life, everyone lives
their lives differently.

:-)

I'm not sure when we started doing this, but among family, we greet each other with "Hey" or "Hey!", depending on the element of surprise. I am a hugger, too.